Sunday, October 30, 2011

In case you missed it, the Working Mother Research Institute surveyed 3,781 women and issued a report called “What Moms Choose.” It quantifies a lot of things we know, and a few that we don’t. Here are a few statistics to throw out over dinner, if you belong to one of those families who have civilized, discussion-based dinners (I tell myself that will happen when the children are older):

•55 percent of career-oriented stay-at-home mothers would prefer to be working•71 percent of mothers equate work with something done only to pick up a paycheck

•51 percent of working mothers feel guilty about not spending enough time with their children•55 percent of working mothers feel guilt about the untidiness of their house

•55 percent of stay-at-home-mothers feel guilty for not contributing to family income•44 percent of stay-at-home moms feel guilt about the untidiness of their house

Guilt and tidiness seem to be pretty powerful themes here. And there’s more on both:•49 percent of working mothers and 47 percent of stay-at-home-mothers agreed with the statement, “I am my worst critic”

And finally,

Working mothers feel most judged about1) How clean my house is2) Not taking care of myself3) The amount of time I spend with my children

Stay-at-home mothers feel most judged about1) My contribution to family income2) How clean my house is3) Not using my education

It’s kind of impossible not to notice the weird emphasis on cleaning here. Why do both sets of mothers feel so much guilt about the house? Is it because they want a clean house or because they think they should have a clean house? My house is clean-ish, but cluttered, which drives me crazy, but doesn’t make me feel guilty (perhaps because I blame it on my husband, whose reluctance to throw away anything should be studied by anthropologists).

Is this a vestige of the 1950s, where women greeted men with cocktails, a warm meal and a meticulous home (oh, if my husband could only go back. In lieu of a highball he gets: “Bathe a kid! Cook some beans! Read ‘Ladybug Girl’ 22 times, and then once more!”).

On the guilt theme, I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised. It is the working mother report from the Working Mother Research Institute. But I can’t help but wonder, would the working dad institute ask whether fathers feel guilty about the cleanliness of their homes?

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Today, nearly one billion people (about 1in 8) lack access to clean water. More than 3.5 million die each year from water-related disease; 84% are children. Lack of access to clean water and sanitation kills at a rate equal to a jumbo jet﻿ full of kids every 4 hours. $25 can supply a person with clean water for life. The more people know the more we can make a difference.﻿ If you see this, and like it please copy and paste to another vid and give any amount you can.Water.org

check out the link below. The water bottle would make a great christmas gift as well as helping others.http://www.waterdropsofhope.com/

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Last weekend Jonathan and I visited New Mexico. We went to the fiesta for hot air balloons. Wow, was that pretty neat! Hundreds of balloons flying in the sky at one time- If you wanted to pay $400.00 pp you could take a hour ride in a balloon. No, Thanks!Can you believe some of the balloons cost over $150,000.00?

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

We have the heat on in the house.I am driving with my seat warmer on.I am warming the truck up before we leave in the morning.We added extra blankets to the beds in the house.My horse is starting to get his winter coat.I am already starting to get the winter blues...

Sunday, October 2, 2011

As I was mowing the grass tonight I could see my breath. What the heck happened? Why did it get so cold so quickly? I am not ready for cold weather... Have I ever written how much I dislike it? When Carson is cold he usually says, "mommy can you turn up the sun?"

Tracey and Carson went to Monster Jam in Wildwood Saturday. This is an annual tradition for the two of them. Carson looks forward to it every year. Below is Carson's thank you note to Tracey (Best).

Dear Best,I really thank you for taking me to monster trucks. The pizza was really good. Remember the little guy was going in the little path but his truck was going to slow. That was really funny. Maybe one day I will kiss you on the lips.I miss Best. See you at 30 o'clock.